Rotatable fixture with positive retention and lifting means

ABSTRACT

A fixture for positively centering and holding an article in a coating process in which the interior and exterior surfaces of the articles are simultaneously coated while the article is rotated by the fixture. Further, the fixture includes means for lifting the article to allow its easy removal from the fixture. In addition, a structure is provided for masking the inner lip or rim of a pan cover or lid when applying a porcelain coating to the exterior surface of the lid.

United States Patent Inventors Alfred V. Bolt;

999,789 8/1911 ll8/320X James S. Wood, both of Chllhcothe, OhlO 2 07 994/1937 134/149 UX 5,192 2,515,359 7/1950 1 18/500 [22] Jan-23,19702,655,128 10/1953 118/503 x 5 gi 2 A 3,322,095 5/1966 Hansen m1. 118/318x S gnee 33:3; z FOREIGN PATENTS 1,277,501 10/1961 France 118/503 2,9431906 Great Britain. l 18/500 [54] ROTATABLE FIXTURE WITH POSITIVE468,835 2/1952 Italy l l8/503 EE F L S P TING MEANS PrimaryExaminer-Morris Kaplan alms rawmg Attorney- Elroy Strickland 52 us. or118/502,

269 50, 279 l E 51 1111. C1 B05c 11 /14 ABSTRACT A M P0sitive|ycentering and hldmg 501 Field of Search 118/500 in a mating which theinterim and 3 502 320, 503, 56 5245; 269/50 55 surfaces of the articlesare simultaneously coated while the ar- 4152; 5) 123; 294/655. 134/'l49H ticle is rotated by the fixture. Further, the fixture includes meansfor lifting the article to allow its easy removal from the ReferencesCited fixture. In addition, a structure is provided for masking theUNITED STATES PATENTS inner lip or rim ofa pan cover or lid whenapplying a porcelain 689 265 12/190] wieland 118/500 coating to theexterior surface of the lid.

l l n msmw mu 1 1922 31633; 540

SHEEI 1 OF 2 FIG. I.

lllllllllllllll HVVENTORS. ALFHEZJ 5/. BOLT and JflMEiS 1?. W000BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to afixture for holding and rotating an article in a process for coatingsame, and particularly to a fixture for positively securing and rotatinga pan or a cover (lid) in a process in which a ceramic porcelain coatingof one or more colors is applied to the interior and exterior surfacesof the pan or cover without removing the pan or cover from the fixtureuntil the process is completed.

In many cases, the process of coating a pan, or cover for same, involvesthe application of a glossy ceramic porcelain finish on the exterior ofthe pan or cover, and a dark, porcelain frit coating applied to theinterior thereof, the frit coating serving as a substrate for a futureTeflon coating. In applying these porcelain coatings, a single pan orcover is usually supported on a fixture which, in turn, is disposed on aconveyor apparatus for travel past stationary spray guns located inspray booths. The guns automatically spray and apply the coatings whenthe fixture enters the booths.

Heretofore, the exterior and interior surfaces of the pan or cover werecoated in separate operations requiring separate spray booths. With thefixtures available in the industry, after the exterior was coated, thepan or cover had to be removed from the fixture, turned over and thenreplaced on the fixture for coating the interior surface ofthe pan orcover.

A fixture commonly used in the application of porcelain finishes tocontainer exteriors employs two band saw blades tautly strung betweenfour ends of four angularly disposed arms, the other ends of the armsbeing secured in the hub ofa vertically disposed spindle mounted forrotation about its vertical axis. The blades are strung in a crosswisemanner to each other. A center wire is attached to the blades at thepoint at which they cross and to the spindle hub to pull the center ofthe blades in a downward direction. This provides a somewhat concavestructure to center and support the pan. The teeth of the blades providea slip resistant edge, but during rotation the teeth are not sufficientto retain the pan in a center position. Thus, with rotation, the pantends to slip off center, and with the eccentric moment resultingtherefrom, the pan can leave the fixture altogether. This has requiredthe use of separate spray booths and operations for coating the exteriorand interior of pans since the accuracy of the coating application issubstantially diminished with the tendency of the pan to move about onthe fixture.

Further, such a structure provides no means for lifting the pan so thatit can be conveniently removed from the fixture when the coatingprocesses are completed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly, the present invention provides afixture which positively centers and retains a pan or cover in a centerposition on the fixture when it is rotated. This allows accurateapplication of coatings to the pan or cover so that the exterior andinterior surfaces thereof can be simultaneously coated without requiringremoval of the pan or cover from the fixture until the process iscompleted. This is accomplished by using a hollow post or spindlevertically disposed and mounted for rotation about its vertical axis.Adjacent the top of the spindle is rigidly attached a plurality of armsfor supporting a pan or cover, the arms radiating outwardly from thespindle. The arms are provided with pin structures for centering andpositively engaging the edge ofa pan so that it will not move about orfly off the arms when rotated. For holding and centering a cover, acylindrical mask is located on the arms, the mask serving further tomask an annular rim portion of the cover from the porcelain applied tothe exterior surface of the cover for reasons explained hereinafter.Further, the spindle is provided with a vertically movable post forlifting the cover clear of the arms when it is desired to remove thearticle from the fixture. This may be done automatically by a cam orother sliding surface disposed in the path of the fixture as it isconveyed past a location or station for removing the article from thefixture.

THE DRAWINGS The invention, along with its advantages and objectives,will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detaileddescription in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a pan and cover supporting fixtureconstructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, a coverbeing supported on the fixture as shown;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the fixture ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a means for engaging and lifting the coverlocated on the fixture of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation of the fixture of FIG. I employed tosupport a pan.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Specifically, in FIG. I there is shown a fixture 10for positively holding and spinning an article 12, the article shownbeing a shell or cover for a container, such as a pan or pot used forcooking purposes, though the invention is not limited thereto.

The fixture 10 comprises essentially a vertically disposed spindlestructure generally designated 14, three horizontally disposed arms 16(FIG. 2) attached to an upper tubular structure or post 18 (forming apart of the spindle) and radiating outwardly therefrom, and a solidcenter post or rod 20 slidably mounted within the spindle and thetubular structure 18.

The arms 16 are rigidly attached to the tubular post 18, for example bywelding the arms to the post after the inwardly directed end of each armis disposed in an opening 22 provided in the wall of the post. Tofurther secure and support each arm, a brace 24 is provided between eacharm and the post and welded thereto as shown in FIG. 1.

The spindle 14, as depicted in FIG. 1, includes an annular cap 26secured about the post 18, and a tubular bearing housing 28, the upperend of which extends into the cap. Within the housing is secured anannular block 30 which functions to support the rod 20 within thehousing. At the lower end of the housing 28 is secured a pulley 29 foreffecting rotation of the housing and thus the spindle 14.

Below the annular block 30 is located a stationary tubular post 32centered in and journaled to the housing 28 by upper and lower sleevebearings 34 and 36. The lower end of the post is secured to an L-shapedstructure 38 which is, in turn, bolted to a member 39 welded to a plate40 forming part of an overall conveyor apparatus and system not shown.The upper end of the post 32 engages the annular block 30 through athrust bearing 42.

The lower end of the solid rod 20 extends below the lower end of bearinghousing 28, and below the L-shaped structure 38 rigidly supporting thestationary post 32. The lower end of the solid rod is provided with arounded or spherical surface 43 designed to engage the surface ofa camor track member (not shown) for lifting the post in the manner explainedhereinafter.

The upper end of the solid rod 20 is provided with a threaded boltmember 44 threaded into a bore provided in the rod. The upper end of thethreaded member is provided with a pointed projection 46 adapted to passthrough a hole provided in the center of the cover 12. The bolt 44further supports three laterally extending and upwardly pointingL-shaped arms 48 (FIG. 3) adapted to engage and support the cover 12 ina balanced manner when the center rod 20 is lifted. As seen in FIG. 3,the arm means are joined together (preferably by welding) to form acenter triangle 47 through which the bolt 44 extends. The arms areattached and secured to the bolt by suitable nuts threaded thereon andlocated above and beneath the arms.

To assist in positively centering and holding the cover 12 on the threearms 16, and to mask a downwardly depending rim portion 49 of aninwardly directed cover flange, a cylindrical mask 50 is provided toseat on and positively engage the arms. This is accomplished byproviding three corresponding slots 52 in the lower edge of the mask,only one such slot being visible in FIG. 1. These slots engage the armsin such a manner that the mask cannot move on the arms during rotationof the fixture 10. The upper part of the mask is provided with atapered, narrow portion 54 which engages the underside of the coverflange in an area outside its rim portion 49.

To apply a glossy porcelain coating to the outside surface of the cover12, and to apply a frit coating to the inside surface thereof, the coveris first disposed on the mask 50 as shown in F lG. 1. Power to theconveyor is then applied to convey the fixture with the cover to aspraying station and booth not shown. The station would include sprayguns suitably located beside the conveyor, the gun or guns for applyingthe glossy coat being positioned above the level of the cover while theguns for applying the frit coating being located beneath the level ofthe cover.

The guns for spraying the inside surface of the cover are directed sothat substantially only the interior of the cover is coated with theinterior spray material. Similarly, the exterior guns are located suchthat essentially only the exterior surface of the cover is coated withthe exterior material. By virtue of the mask 50, the outside surface ofthe rim 49 does not receive the exterior coat thereby providing aporcelain coated cover having no exterior porcelain deposits on theportions of the cover that are located inside of a container. in thepresent invention, the mask 50 serves this purpose as well as providinga means to positively secure and center the cover on the arms 16 ofthefixture 10.

Before the spray guns are activated, the fixture is rotated by asuitable drive means, such as a fractional horsepower motor coupled tothe pulley 29, to spin the cover so that the porcelain coatings areevenly applied thereto. Because of the positive retention offered by themask 50 and the projection 46 of the bolt 44, the cover can be rotatedat substantial velocities without becoming off center and flying off thefixture thereby increasing production capabilities of the conveying andcoating equipment, and thus, attaining economies unattainable with priorart fixtures.

When the process of coating the cover 12 is completed, the rod 20 islifted by a fixed sliding surface (not shown) disposed in the path ofthe fixture l0 and in the path of the rounded end portion 43 of the rodas the conveyor moves the fixture 10 along its path of travel. When therod moves upwardly, the pointed ends of the arms 48 engage the undersideof the cover to lift it above the mask 50. The lateral disposition ofthe arms 48 serves to balance the cover horizontally above the maskuntil a means, such as a forked-shaped holder (not shown) can bedisposed beneath the cover to remove the same from the fixture.

The invention has thus far been described in connection with a cover fora pot or pan, and with means for coating the interior and exteriorsurfaces with porcelain coatings. The fixture 10, however, can beemployed to positively center and hold a pan 55 (FIG. 4) or other typesof containers on which it is desired to coat or otherwise treat thesurfaces thereof. To this end, the mask 50 is removed, and the pan isdisposed upside-down on the arms 16 of the fixture 10, the arms beingprovided with inverted U-shaped pins 56 fixed therein as shown in FIGS.1 and 4. In FIG. 2, each arm is shown provided with three pins 56A, Band C located at three different radial distances from the center of thefixture. In this manner, the fixture can accommodate three differentsize pans or pots. When the pan or pot to be coated is disposedupside-down on the arms 16, the inside surface of the pan engages oneset of the three pins (A, B or C) depending upon the diameter of thepan. In FIG. 4, the pan 55 is shown engaging pins B, only one of whichis shown in the Figure.

The coating process for pans is similar to that described above inconnection with the cover 12. The fixture l0 conveys the pan into aspray booth where the interior and exterior surfaces thereof can besimultaneously sprayed with coatings of a desired material, quality andcolor without the necessity of removing the pan from the fixture untilthe process is completed.

Ordinarily, the lifting mechanism of the invention is not needed withpots and pans since such have handle attachments with which they can belifted from the fixture and transported to another location. However,with pans having no handles, and depending upon the depth of the pan,the height of the bolt 44 above the rod 20 can be adjusted therein topermit suitable engagement of the pan by the pointed arms 48 when therod is lifted at the completion of the coating process. The pointedprojection 46 at the top of the bolt would be removed since there is nohole in the pan for accommodating same.

The spindle 14 may be provided with a device for orienting the fixtureand cover (or pan) when rotation of the spindle is stopped. in FIG. 1,this is accomplished by a spring-biased ball plunger 58, secured in theL-shaped member 38 supporting the stationary post 32, and a taperedblock 59 secured to the underside of the pulley 29 and curved around thebearing 36. During rotation of the spindle, the direction of the taperof the block is such that the ball plunger is depressed and released byrotation of the tapered block. When the spindle is stopped, the wide endof the tapered block has sufficient width to engage the ball plunger ina manner that will not cause its depression thereby preventing rotationof the spindle in the opposite direction. Rotation in the regulardirection (i.e., the direction of block taper) is prevented by the drivemeans acting upon the pulley.

From the foregoing description, it should now be apparent that a new anduseful fixture has been disclosed which positively centers and securesan article for rotation of same by the fixture. The fixture furtherincludes means for lifting the anicle from the fixture. These ends areaccomplished by a vertically disposed spindle having at least three armsrigidly attached adjacent the upper end of the spindle, a center liftrod slidably disposed within the spindle, and pin or mask means providedon and secured to the arms. Additionally, the fixture provides means tocoat the inside and outside surfaces of the container in one operation.

Though the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, changes may be made therein without departing from thescope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A structure for supporting a shell in a process in which thestructure rotates the shell, said shell having an inwardly directedflange and a rim portion depending therefrom, said supporting structurecomprising a vertically disposed spindle mounted for rotation about itsvertical axis,

a plurality of arms rigidly attached to said spindle, and

radiating outwardly therefrom,

a cylindrical mask disposed on said arms, and having an upper edge forengaging the shell flange outside the area of its depending rim portionso that the depending portion is inwardly disposed of said mask,

means on said arms retaining said mask,

means mechanically associated with said spindle for verti- Vcallylifting the shell independently of the mask, and

means fixed to said spindle to effect rotation of same, and thusrotation of the arms as well as the cover and mask.

2. The structure of claim 3 in which the shell has a centrally locatedopening, and the center post has a pointed end portion for extendingthrough said opening when the shell is disposed on the mask.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which the spindle is a tubular structurehaving a center bore,

the means for lifting the shell including a center post slidably mountedwithin said bore, and having means adjacent the upper end of said postfor engaging and lifting the shell from the arms when the post is lifteda predetermined distance within the bore.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the means for engaging and liftingthe shell include arm means attached to the center post, and extendingoutwardly therefrom, each of said arms having a pointed end portionextending in an upward direction. 5

UNITE STATES A ENT OFFICE a I 'CERTEFICATE ECOREQTIUN Pa ent No.3,633,540 Dated Jan. 11, 1972 Inventor) Alfred Bolt and James S. Wood-It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

- 111 the Claims: I Make Claim 2 Claim 3.

I v Make Claim 3 Claim Cl; 2, line 1 'I Change "olaim 3" to claim 2";

c1. 4, line 1 Change "claim 3" to claim 2".

Signedend sealed thisBOth day'of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLET0HER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM P0-1050 (10-69) -Qc 60376-1559 k U.S. GOVERNMENTPRINTlNG OFFICE I I969 0-366-33

1. A structure for supporting a shell in a process in which thestructure rotates the shell, said shell having an inwardly directedflange and a rim portion depending therefrom, said supporting structurecomprising a vertically disposed spindle mounted for rotation about itsvertical axis, a plurality of arms rigidly attached to said spindle, andradiating outwardly therefrom, a cylindrical mask disposed on said arms,and having an upper edge for engaging the shell flange outside the areaof its depending rim portion so that the depending portion is inwardlydisposed of said mask, means on said arms retaining said mask, meansmechanically associated with said spindle for vertically lifting thecover independently of the mask, and means fixed to said spindle toeffect rotation of same, and thus rotation of the arms as well as thecover and mask.
 2. The structure of claim 3 in which the shell has acentrally located opening, and the center post has a pointed end portionfor extending through said opening when the shell is disposed on themask.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which the spindle is a tubularstructure having a center bore, the means for lifting the shellincluding a center post slidably mounted within said bore, and havingmeans adjacent the upper end of said post for engaging and lifting theshell from the arms when the post is lifted a predetermined distancewithin the bore.
 4. The structure of claim 3 in which the means forengaging and lifting the shell include arm means attached to the centerpost, and extending outwardly therefrom, each of said arms having apointed end portion extending in an upward direction.